Display rack



June 1, 1965 A. J. DE CRISTINQ 3,186,560

DISPLAY RACK Filed Dec. 27, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. FIG. 2

INVENTOR. 1415597 .Z'De (EAST/1V0 June 1, 1965 Filed Dec. 27, 1963 A. J. DE cRlsTlNo DISPLAY RACK I FIG. 3 E

' mam III a2 fill 39 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALBEIPTJ De CAAST/NO June 1, 19625 A. J. DE CRISTINO 3,135,560

DISPLAY RACK Filed Dec. 27, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR. AA 55 7 .1 De oezsm/o lmwak June 1955 A. J. DE CRISTINO 3,186,560

DISPLAY RACK Filed Dec. 27; 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ALB'ATJfDe C'k/ST/NO ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,186,560 DISPLAY RACK Albert J. De Cristino, Long Island City, N.Y., assignor to N. S. Meyer, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 333,957 t 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-177) This invention relates to .a structurally and functionally improved rack for the display of diverse types of merchandise.

Among objects of the invention are those furnishing a structure capable of being easily erected and disassembled. Moreover, the supporting parts of the rack will be readily capable of shifting so that a customer will have no difficulty in affecting rotation of the parts to permit close inspection of the articles supported on the rack.

Additionally, racks of various heights may be created when assembling the parts. Accordingly, the size of the rack may be adapted to a proportion such that the size of the articles will be related thereto to thus allow for an attractive display.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a display rack;

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the assembly;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional side views taken along the lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively in the direct-ion of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a similar view taken along the line 66 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the main parts of a rack structure; and

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show prefer-red forms of merchandise supporting portions which may alternatively be used in this structure.

In the illustrated form of the invention as particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the rack preferably includes a supporting base of any desired configuration which provides an opening for the reception of the lower end of a post 16. Conveniently a friction fit may exist between these .parts. In all events, when assembled, the post should be maintained in vertical position by the base to thus establish a stable structure. A series of article supporting members are mounted in tier formation upon the post and spaced from each other. The detailed structure of the latter assemblies will be hereinafter described. At the present moment it will, however, be noted that they include what may be termed central parts 17 from which outer portions 18 extend. The latter are primarily intended for the supporting of articles to be displayed. v

The post prefer-ably comprises a plurality of sections and as especially shown in FIG. 6 these sections 19 are tubular with the adjacent ends capable of being telescopically disposed one within the other. To achieve this, one end has a reduced diameter as at 20 such that it may be received within the bore of the adjacent section. Additionally, it is preferred and as shown in that view, to indent the outer-most section :as at 21 and provide the innermost section with a grooved structure 22 to thus furnish a generally bayonet type of coupling. Therefore with the parts of this coupling engaged and in frictional contact they will be held against accidental detachment. Moreover, adjacent the zone at which the diameter of one post section is reduced, as at 20, an outwardly extending portion 23 will exist. This riding against the edge of the adjacent section will assure a stable structure.

As afore brought out the article supporting assemblies include portions generally designated as central and outer dddbfififi Patented June 1, 1965 parts. The former have been shown to best advantage in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. Rods 24 provide what might be termed the mounting frame of this part. They extend downwardly and inwardly as at 25 to furnish in effect a truncated cone. At their lower ends they are connected to each other by a washer 26 to which they may be spot welded. Their upper ends are similarly connected to horizontally extending rods 27 which, by welding, form parts of the inner surfaces of perforated strips 28. Additional rods or continuations of rods 27 may be similarly attached to the inner faces of strips 28 and have been indicated by the numeral 2?. Further rods 30 extend between rods 27 and are preferably spot welded thereto in order to furnish horizontal members. Additional rods 31 are connected by spot welding or otherwise to those rods 30 which are beyond the center of the assembly. Accordingly, a central frame or aperture is defined by these rods 30 and 31 which is aligned with the aperture of washer 26. Additional rods 32 convenient-1y extend parallel to strips 28 and centrally between them; they again being held in position preferably by welding connection with rods 30 and serving-if desired-to support articles adjacent their ends.

It is desired that a number of assemblies be maintained in spaced relationship to each other along the length of the post. Also that these assemblies be freely rotatable around the axis of that post. To this end the sections providing the post are at predetermined points formed with transverse openings to receive cotter pins 33. The latter extend beyond the side face of the post sections and prevent downward movement of washers 34 which are threaded over the section. Interposed between washers 26 and 34 an anti-friction member, preferable in the form of a needle bearing unit 35, is provided. Accordingly, washer 26 and the parts connected therewith will be freely rotatable with respect to washer 34.

With respect to the outer parts of the supporting assemblies, they may take diverse forms. One of the simplest of these has been shown in FIG. -8 in which the single rod 36 provides a supporting arm with its outer end conveniently extending in an upward direction. Its inner end extends downwardly as at 37 and at a point short that end and is secured by welding or otherwise to a transversely extending rod 38 having ends spaced from each other a distance equal to the spacing of the perforations in strips 28. Those ends are angularly extended as at 39 to furnish in conjunction with the arm 36 .a rod structure with offset ends. Accordingly, and as indicated by full and dot and dash lines in FIG. 4 a hinge structure is furnished. This allows detachable coupling of the display arms or outer parts of the assemblies with the inner parts of the latter. To effect this result rod, or arm -36, has its inner end brought to a position at which the offset ends 39 of rod portion 38 pass through openings or perforations in strip 28. Then by swinging arm 36 downwardly those offset end portions 39 will bear against rod 29 on the inner face of strip 28. Likewise angular portion 37 will bear against the outer face of the strip to maintain arm 36 in horizontal position. It thus becomes apparent that rods such as 2'7 and 29 function as reinforcing and bearing members.

In lieu of a single supporting arm 36 a tray structure may be provided embodying the same functional characteristics. Such a structure has been shown in FIG. 9 in which a rod 4-0 has been bent to furnish a desired outline and has been secured by spot welding to rods 41 which thus furnish a base for the tray. Those rods have their inner ends angularly offset as at 42 and corresponding to the structure heretofore described under numerals 37 and 39. Therefore the article supporting member will not alone extend horizontally when attached to the central part of a supporting assembly but will not also be stable in its relationship to that part. It will be capable of ready Q detachment or associationwith strip 28 and will adequate- 1y support articles which it carries.

As shown in FIG. 10, a structure quite similar to that illustratedin FIG.9 is. provided. In this instance bars 43 have their upper ends offset-as at 44 to pass throughthe perforations in strip 28 and thrust against the bearing surfaces provided for this purpose. A framing rod 45 is secured by spot welding or otherwise to rod 43 and cross rods 46 may be similarly secured between the horizontal portionsof the ilatter to provide what might be termed a base. As will be observed, the spacing between the offsetend portions 42 .is greaterthanthat between the portions 39. Likewise, the spacing between. offset end portions 44- is greater than that between parts 42. In this connection, it is preferredto increase'the spacing in the instance oflarger article-supporting parts so that stability is assured.

As will be understood, the parts of the rack may be shipped to a user in disassembled condition. As such they will include the display assemblies embracing outer parts such as are shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 inclusive. Separate -Upon this pin a washer 34 will be mounted by simply threading that washer over the post section. A hearing member 35 will then be similarly threaded and brought to rest upon washer 34. The central part of the assembly defined at its lower end by washer 26 will now he threaded over the post section so that the latter extends not alone blies in spaced'relationship'and in tier formation along said post, saidassemblies comprising central and outer parts and means for :separably coupling them to cause the outer parts .to eirtend radially of said post the coupling means for the assemblies comprising perforated strip elements included in one said part,,rod elements included in the other part, angnlarly offset end "portions ,for said rods extendable through said perforations to provide a hinge couplingand means forming a partof oneof-said elements and cooperable withthe other. of the same to limit hinging movements thereof and maintain the outer assembly part in a position substantially perpendicular to the post axis. r e

2. In a rack'structure as defined in claim 1, said post comprising a plurality-of sections and means detachably securing the same to each other in axially .aligned positions.

3. In a'rack structure as defined in .claim 2, said sections being tubular with thetend of one said section telescopically disposed with respect totheaadja'cent end of a second section.

through the aperture of the washer but also throughthe aperture or framing defined by the central areas of the 'bars 30and 31. Now a second post section will be disposed'in telescopic relationship with the lower post section as shown" in FIG-6. A cotter pin'33 will injturn be inserted through the transverse openings in the second section. These operations will be continued until a desired structural height is achieved. This may, for example, involve proportions such as are shown in FIGS. .1 and 2. Obviously, a disassembly of the structure may be achieved with equal ease by reversing the process.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted. are accomplished. Nu merous changes in structure and rearrangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A rack structure including in combination a verti- V cally extending post, article supporting assemblies having openings through which said post projects, means engaging said assemblies and post to maintain such assem- Ina rack structure as defined in claim 3 and means providing cooperating parts of 'a bayonet coupling'at the adjacent section ends to securesaid sections against acci- 25 dental separation. a

5. In a rack structure as. defined in claim 2,.an apertured base for. said structure and thelowermo'st section of said post being disposed Within said aperture.

6..In a display rack as defined v,inclaiml, said spacemaintaining means comprising bearing structuresv such that said supporting assembliesare rotatable aroundsaid post. I

71in a display rack asdefinedin .claitni, said spacemaintaining ,means comprising a lower washer, a hearing. member resting upon the same at a:POlI1t-ib6lOW an assembly in supporting relationship therewith and means for maintaining said washer againstmovement downwardly of said post. a

8. :In a display rack as defined in claim 17, a :second washer above saidbearingymember and forming a portion of the central. part of said assembly to establish such supporting relationship.

References Cited laythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,432,286 10/22 Goldberg 211-58 1,466,564 8/23 Samuel 21116 3 2,071,290 2/37 Scriba 211-58 2,110,158 3/38 Keeler 211..l82 2,327,742 8/43 Rosenberg 211131 2,621,429 12/52 Teich 4068 2,707,566 5/55 Eaton 211-163 2,738,075 3/56 Guignard 211-56 3,070,339 12/62 Schayer 248-223 3,132,747 5/64 .Van Duyne 211177 CLAUDE A. .LE. ROY,"Primary Examiner. 

1. A RACK STRUCTURE INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A VERTICALLY EXTENDING POST, ARTICLE-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLIES HAVING OPENINGS THROUGH WHICH SAID POST PROJECTS, MEANS ENGAGING SAID ASSEMBLIES AND POST TO MAINTAIN SUCH ASSEMBLIES IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP AND IN TIER FORMATION ALONG SAID POST, SAID ASSEMBLIES COMPRISING CENTRAL AND OUTER PARTS AND MEANS FOR SEPARABLY COUPLING THEM TO CAUSE THE OUTER PARTS TO EXTEND RADIALLY OF SAID POST THE COUPLING MEANS FOR THE ASSEMBLIES COMPRISING PERFORATED STRIP ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN ONE SAID PART, ROD ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE OTHER PART, ANGULARLY OFFSET END PORTIONS FOR SAID RODS EXTENDABLE THROUGH SAID PERFORATIONS TO PROVIDE A HINGE COUPLING AND MEANS FORMING A PART OF ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS AND COOPERABLE WITH THE OTHER OF THE SAME TO LIMIT HINGING MOVEMENTS THEREOF AND MAINTAIN THE OUTER ASSEMBLY PART IN A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE POST AXIS. 